At Least 12 Exposed To Rabid Cat

At least a dozen people were exposed to a rabid kitten that was among a group of stray cats living in a southwestern Connecticut community, health officials said Monday.

The cats were rounded up during the weekend and were killed so they could be tested for rabies, said Pat Mshar, an epidemiologist with the state Department of Health and Addiction Services.

Health officials also began going door-to-door in the neighborhood where the cats had been living, alerting people to the possible danger.

Michael Crespan, health director in New Milford, said at least six cats and possibly as many as a dozen had been captured and destroyed.

He said there apparently were at least two litters born to two females and one male cat.

He would not identify the town in which the cats had been living, saying only that it was in Fairfield County.

One of the kittens had been taken to the Elephant's Trunk Flea Market in New Milford July 17 and was taken home by a Litchfield County family.

That 8- to 10-week-old kitten became ill last week and tested positive for rabies. The three members of that family began treatment for rabies exposure Friday.

After the case was publicized Saturday, a number of people came forward and said they believed they had handled the infected kitten. Among those people was the vendor who had brought the kitten to the flea market, Crespan said.

Crespan said that man and his two daughters planned to begin the rabies treatment, as did five other people who were exposed to the rabies virus by being scratched or bitten by the kitten.

One additional person was found late Monday afternoon, but no decision had been made on whether he should be treated, Crespan said. Rabies is fatal if not treated.

Health officials would not identify anyone who was exposed to the infected kitten.

State health officials had said Friday that seven cats and 428 other animals previously had been found to be rabid in Connecticut this year.